Abstract: Methods of generating and expanding proliferative, multipotent connective tissue progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells and embryoid bodies are provided. Also provided are methods of generating functional tendon grafts in vitro and bone, cartilage and connective tissues in vivo using the isolated cell preparation of connective tissue progenitor cells.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a physical/biochemical sensor using a multisized piezoelectric microcantilever resonator array which enables to quantitatively and simultaneously analyze a mass loading effect and a surface stress change effect and a manufacturing method thereof. In the physical/biochemical sensor using the multisized piezoelectric microcantilever resonator array, a plurality of piezoelectric micro-cantilever resonators having different sizes is arrayed so as to quantitatively and discriminately analyze a surface stress change as well as a sensor surface mass change induced by an adsorbed sensing-target material occurring in a sensing process. Thus, the mass loading effect and the surface stress change effect can be quantitatively and simultaneously analyzed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of extracting a hydrocarbon-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations, wherein such methods rely on the use of an extraction fluid comprising pentane for facilitating the production of a mobile hydrocarbon-based product when the pentane contacts hydrocarbons in subsurface shale. The contacting process, and the subsequent process of recovering the mobile hydrocarbon-based product, is further enhanced by the methods of fracturing and/or rubblizing portions of the shale formation, so as to enhance their fluid permeability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new use of inhibitors of leukotriene B4 receptor BLT2 for treating asthma. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for treating asthma comprising BLT2 inhibitors and a method for treating asthma using BLT2 inhibitors. The present inventors investigated the role of BLT2 in the pathogenesis of asthma using a murine model and demonstrated that BLT2 plays a critical role in the development of AHR and airway inflammation by employing BLT2 inhibitors, such as antisense oligonucleotide. Therefore, the BLT 2 inhibitors according to the present invention can be effectively used as a therapeutic composition for treating asthma.

Abstract: A novel aromatic polyamide compound, a polymerization method thereof, and an optical film for use in a flexible display substrate produced using the same are disclosed. The aromatic polyamide compound is a copolymer comprising a repeating unit of a para-substituted aromatic diamine and a repeating unit of a meta- or meta-para-substituted aromatic diamine. The aromatic polyamide compound is colorless and transparent, excellent in heat resistance, and excellent in processability such as the compound being easily dissolved in a polar organic solvent without the addition of an inorganic salt. Therefore, the aromatic polyamide compound is suitable for producing the optical film for use in a display substrate.

Abstract: Nanoscale graphene structure fabrication techniques are provided. An oxide nanowire useful as a mask is formed on a graphene layer and then ion beam etching is performed. A nanoscale graphene structure is fabricated by removing a remaining oxide nanowire after the ion beam etching.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a circuit board includes providing a first substrate, forming a circuit on the first substrate, the circuit having a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one nanostructure, and transferring the circuit from the first substrate to a surface of a second substrate made of a polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for diagnosis or prognosis of Alzheimer's disease in a patient. The methods may include assessing whether a patient has Alzheimer's disease or assessing a patient's risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. The methods typically include determining, either directly or indirectly, whether the patient has mutations, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, in a plurality of genes that encode gene products that function in steroid biosynthesis.

Abstract: Techniques for manufacturing a graphene structure solution and a graphene device are provided. A uniform graphene nanostructure solution is produced by applying anisotropic etching on a multi-layered graphene using an oxide nanowire as a mask. A graphene device is manufactured by dipping a substrate with a pattern of a molecule layer in a graphene nanostructure solution so that graphenes are aligned on the substrate with the pattern.

Abstract: A cascaded photovoltaic/thermophotovoltaic energy conversion apparatus, a cascaded thermophotovoltaic energy conversion apparatus, and a method for forming the apparatuses are provided. The cascaded photovoltaic/thermophotovoltauc apparatus includes a photovoltaic device that receives solar radiation on an upper surface thereof and produces a first electric current output and a thermal radiation output, and a thermophotovoltaic device disposed a predetermined distance below a lower surface of the photovoltaic device, the thermophotovoltaic device receiving the thermal radiation output and converting the received thermal radiation output into a second electric current output.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel proteins, referred to herein as amidated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) peptides (or “Amidated Dopamine Neuron Stimulating peptides (ADNS peptides)”), that are useful for treating brain diseases and injuries that result in dopaminergic deficiencies.

Abstract: A computerized method of computing the Voronoi diagram has applications including communications networks, robotics, three-dimensional networks, materials science, searching image processing, data clustering, data compression, control of a groups of methods for image processing and the like, design of electronic circuits, geographic information systems, solutions of the efficient location problem, face recognition, mesh generation and re-meshing, curve and surface generation/reconstruction, solid modeling, collision detection, controlling motion of vehicles, navigation, accident prevention, data clustering and data processing, proximity operations, nearest neighbor search, numerical simulations, weather prediction, analyzing and modeling proteins and other biological structures, designing drugs, finding shortest paths, pattern recognition and as an artistic tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor compounds and methods of identifying and using them. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions for treating cell proliferative disorders, especially cancer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for electromagnetic actuation. Embodiments of an electromagnet actuator in accordance with the subject invention can include a fixed main body and a deformable membrane or displaceable piston-like member. In the case of piston motion, in specific embodiments, the piston can be supported by a corrugated diaphragm or bellows. In various embodiments, all or portions of the electromagnet actuator can be produced using microfabrication techniques. Specific embodiment of the subject invention can incorporate a plurality of magnets providing magnetic flux to a plurality of coil conductor elements so as to provide a plurality of locations that a force is applied to the moveable body portion of the electromagnetic actuator. Specific embodiments can incorporate an array of magnets interdigitated with an array of coil conductor elements, where the arrays can include 2, 5, 10, 20, or more each.

Abstract: Photoinitiator modified silicate and ethylenically unsaturated monomer are reacted in solvent to cause living polymerization of monomer and exfoliation of silicate layers and cause attachment of silicate layers to polymer chains, thereby providing dispersed homopolymer or block copolymer silicate nanocomposites.

Abstract: Substrates having nanostructures disposed thereon and methods of forming nanostructures on the substrates are disclosed. In particular, embodiments of the present invention provide for structures having a substrate having a non-planar surface. In an embodiment, a portion of the non-planar surface has at least one layer of nanostructures disposed thereon.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a polyanhydride by irradiating one or more diacids with microwave radiation in the presence of a carboxylic anhydride so as to acylate the one or more diacids to yield at least one prepolymer, and irradiating the prepolymer with microwave radiation so as to polymerize said prepolymer to yield the polyanhydride, as a homopolymer or a copolymer. High purity polyanhydrides can be prepared by this method. Reaction times compared to conventional melt polycondensations can be significantly reduced. Copolymer polyanhydrides can also be prepared by the microware radiation techniques described herein.

Abstract: A method of designing logic circuit provides a logic circuit which includes a first transistor network and a complementary second transistor network connected at a central node. The central node serves as a first logic output. Each of the transistor networks is also connected to a respective root. A third transistor network is connected between an intermediate node of one of the transistor networks and the network's respective root. The third transistor network has a complementary structure to the transistors between the intermediate node and the central node, and includes a logic output The third transistor network (the graft network) provides a second logic output to the logic circuit.

Abstract: A solid-phase immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1?, the stable hydrolysis product of prostacyclin (Prostaglandin I2) is disclosed. Prostacyclin, a potent vasodilator with anti-platelet and anti-proliferative properties is an effective treatment for primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with scleroderma and scleroderma-like syndrome. Levels of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1? can be directly correlated with levels of prostacyclin. Therefore, 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1? has become the indicator of choice to measure prostacyclin levels. The single step immunoassay for 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1? uses the bioluminescent protein, aequorin as a label. Analyte-label conjugates were constructed by linking the carboxyl group of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1? and lysine residues of aequorin by chemical conjugation methods. The binding properties of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F1? towards its antibody and the bioluminescent properties of aequorin are retained in the conjugate.

Abstract: Provided is a guard trace pattern reducing far-end crosstalk and a printed circuit board having the guard trace pattern. The guard trace pattern includes a first guard trace pattern parallel with two signal lines and a plurality of second guard trace patterns perpendicular to the first guard trace pattern to increase mutual capacitance between the two signal lines and the guard trace pattern and increase mutual capacitance between the two signal lines. The printed circuit board includes the aforementioned guard trace pattern disposed between micro strip transmission lines. A characteristic impedance of the guard trace pattern is different from a characteristic impedance of the micro strip transmission lines, and resistances having the same value as a resistance component value of the characteristic impedance of the guard trace pattern are provided to both ends of the guard trace pattern.